The American Red Cross blood supply has reached emergency levels with 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June. This shortfall leaves the Red Cross with half the readily available blood products on hand now than this time last year.

The Red Cross is calling on all eligible blood donors – now more than ever – to roll up a sleeve and give as soon as possible. All blood types are needed, but especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative in order to meet patient demand this summer.

Many regular donors got an early start on summer activities and aren’t taking time to give blood or platelets. In addition, this year’s mid-week Independence Day holiday has reduced the number of scheduled Red Cross blood drives. Many sponsors, especially businesses, are unable to host drives because employees are taking extended vacations.

After more than a year of back and forth with Macon County officials and the state Department of Health and Human Services, Macon County is in the home stretch of securing a dialysis center.

In Mid-May, 50 Macon County residents and medical professionals gathered at the Macon County Courthouse to urge state officials to allow DaVita Dialysis Center to develop the dialysis facility in Macon County. Last week, the Certificate of Need Section of the Department of Health and Human Services awarded DaVita the rights to operate in Macon County.

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in America. Despite its lethality it is not America’s costliest health problem. That distinction goes to an epidemic that began less than 30 years ago and accounts for 20 percent of total U.S. healthcare spending. Presently this scourge affects one-third of adults. By 2030 it could affect as many as 42 percent of adults. Of the ten most common causes of death, four are influenced by this health problem.

That malady is known as the obesity epidemic.

The number of U.S. citizens who are affected by obesity is staggering – 78 million adults and nearly 13 million children.

A particularly alarming consequence of the obesity epidemic is its effect on children. Eighty percent of obese children remain obese as adults. Health problems that obese children carry into adulthood include diseases of the liver, heart, lung and joints as well as type 2 diabetes. Although type 2 diabetes formerly was referred to as “adult-onset diabetes,” this designation has become a misnomer with the recent surge in the number of children with type 2 diabetes.

The Foundation for Angel Medical Center recently held their first ever road rally to rave reviews by participants. The event, held on Saturday, May 5, raised nearly $5,000 to benefit the Outpatient Medicine Expansion project at Angel Medical Center.

“We would like to congratulate our winners, Craig and Laura Doolittle,” said Don Capaforte, foundation director. The Doolittles were awarded $350 for finishing in first place.

“Berita Fox finished in second place with Ed and Jane Shatley placing third,” Capaforte continued. They received $250 and $150 respectively in prize money. Winners were judged on the time taken to travel the course without going under a specified time.